Xanadu Weyr – Clearing
A wide clearing stretches from east to west, the ground packed hard although grass grows across most of it. Trees are strictly forbidden in this space, their danger to the constant draconic traffic reason enough to banish them to the forest that creates a this and sharp border to the north. Where the ground is less trampled, tiny flowers poke their delicate heads out from their shaded hiding places with upturned petals to wave to whoever may be looking.
The cliff looms imposingly on three sides, stretching upwards all the way up the side of the mountain where, high above, Xanadu's Star Stones and the ever present watchdragon sit on a lonely peak. Directly south is a massive tunnel, fully wide enough for even the largest dragon to fly down. Southeast are wide steps leading up to the Caverns and eastwards is the large entrance to the Infirmary. Somewhat north of the Infirmary is a human sized archway that has a frequent quantity of traffic — it leads to the Tavern. Southwest lies the low ledges currently belonging to Xanadu's queens while north and west a broad path cut by the side of the cliff leads to the Feeding Grounds and due north is the spacious trail that leads to the rest of the Weyr.
Leaning against the side of the Tavern arch, Dominic is currently doing his best to restring his lute. He's using the edge of the arch to prop himself up against with his lute case near his feet. His staff is also off to the side.
Coming out of the Tavern is Darsce. She's got that 'I'm so bored' look on her face while idly flipping through the pages of some magazine with long, manicured pink nails flashing in the setting sun of the warm spring evening. She’s not really watching where she's going as she ambles. She does catch sight of the case out of the corner of her eye however and being in sad need for entertainment, she pauses to stare for a moment, viewing the re-stringing effort going on there with a touch of skepticism. With a voice dripping with incredulity she asks, "Wouldn't like, a table or something help you get that done easier?" Well, she's a teenager, blame her blunt sarcasm on that.
"Perhaps it would, young lady." Dom's voice counters. "But then it wouldn't be nearly as challenging would it? And by using gravity it helps keep the strings taunt." And Dom finishes fixing the lute he swings it up and begins to flick his finger over the strings. He hrms and begins to slowly tune the lute. All the while he hasn't looked down at the lute or the strings. He's not even looked towards the blunt teen either.
D'had hasn't made it to the tavern yet, but he is on his way, which brings him upon Darcse and the harper. His feet know the way well enough even though he's not exactly paying attention, the unfocused gaze he wears hinting at the idea that he might be having some sort of conversation with his lifemate.
Not even trying to be diplomatic, the blonde teen snorts. It's a delicate, ladylike snort, but a snort nonetheless. "You're not much older than I am, thanks. And I can think of a whole bunch of challenges that would be more fun than trying to work strings through those little holes while holding up a wall." Her voice is rich with suggestive meaning but she's not moving any closer to him either. D'had's arrival brings her eyes up and over his way and she twinkles a smile towards him, her tone taking on a bouncing lilt. "Helloooo…" Leaving off any sort of title in that greeting, does Darsce, but her fingers flutter a wave at the man.
"How about doing it when you are blind?" Dom asks her, grinning a bit impishly at the words that she offers up. "Hello as well. My name is Dominic." He obviously hasn't heard the other man's approach. "And I have no idea how old you are." He admits.
It takes a moment even for Darsce's hello to sink in and even then when D’had returns the greeting he's still a little distracted. "Hey baby," he replies to the blonde as he joins the pair. A nod to the harper as he inquires, "Who's yer friend?"
"I'm not blind?" This is Darsce's bright observation to the harper while noting that impish grin with a little less antagonism. She tucks the magazine under one arm while stepping closer to the both of them, grudgingly acknowledging, "I'm Darsce." Her iceblue eyes shift to the bluerider, take in his distraction with a part concern, part supposition even while they flick to the darkening skies, "Not another flight I hope?" Does she look poised to run and hide? "He says his name is Dominic," she tells D'had dubiously while giving the man with the lute another look. "I'm nineteen turns old. You don't look old enough to call anyone ‘young lady’ though."
"No dear." Dom gives a small laugh as he listens to Darsce talk first to him and then to the man. "I'm blind." Another soft laugh comes to his throat. "Ah, hello sir." He calls outwards towards the unknown person. "That I am. Dom, please." He admits. "Oh, and it's nice to meet you both." He says to them before he finishes tuning up his lute and flicks a few notes across it. He's rather good just form that small bit. "Nineteen?" A hmm. "I'm a bit older."
D'had chuckles, "No," he replies about a flight. "Nothin' like that. He's on me about some meetin' that's startin' soon." That he apparently is supposed to be at. "Nice ta meet ya," he adds for the repeat of the other man's name. "Love ta buy ya both a drink, but should be gettin' on. Go get one on me, hmm?" he suggests. "I'll catch up with you later," he adds then for Darsce before heading on.
Darsce huffs just a little bit at being called 'dear' but it doesn't quite become the flounce most people would get when he makes his statement. That sort of admission might bring pity or apology from some, but the teen just blinks. "Oh. Blind. That's got to bite." After a little pause she remarks, “Soooo… if you’re blind, calling me ‘young lady’ might have been a glaring assumption. I could have been an old hag.” All the while her perplexed gaze watches the bluerider walk right on by, turning to watch him disappear with a bit of fond exasperation. Back to the harper, she's frankly curious. "How'd you lose your eyesight?"
"By being born." Dom tells her as he waves off towards D'had. "Take care." He gives a small shrug before he turns and smiles at Darsce. "It's really not that bad, you know? I can play the lute very well. I'm a journeyman harper. I am fairly handsome. I'm decently well off. It's not a handicap. I just run into things from time to time."
Darsce is the last one to give a person fake sympathy. She peers at the man with a touch of returning skepticism. "Harper huh? Neat. But if you've been blind all your life, how do you know you're handsome?" There's a hint of impish tease in her words, rather than sounding outright mean about it when she asks, "I've seen dog-ugly guys get called adorably cute by their mamas.” She finishes brightly with, “Maybe you should get a second opinion!" Okay, yes. She's assuming he was told that by his mother.
"Perhaps someone else has told me that?" Dom asks, teases her in return. "Oh you got me… it was my mama." He admits, even if the tone is rather clear that it wasn't. "Well since you are offering up a second opinion." He waves a free hand. "Go ahead."
Darsce's nose wrinkles at that badly-faked admittance of his. Not that he can see that, but he'll certainly hear the cool, haughty tone in her voice. "You know," she starts, "that's a little patronizing, Dom." There's no beating around the bush with her - she's going to tell it like it is. Her blue eyes flash icefire but she bites the comment that rises, instead giving the man's face a frank appraisal. "Not bad," she finally says but right after flicks her pink lacquered fingernails in an imperious gesture, "But I wouldn't say handsome. More like… rugged."
"Rugged I'll take." Dom offers, laughing. "Sorry, it is why I'm not a joker." He admits. "Poor ear for humor." Dom begins to slowly play his lute in a soft, lilting tone. "What brings you out here on this.." He pauses. "It's lovely, but what time is it?"
Darsce actually tsks at this. She's being… difficult, poor Dominic. She's smiling though, and despite the words being sharp, they're lightly spoken, "A harper with a poor ear. You know, if your eyes don't work, the least your ears could do is pick up the slack." She echoes him then, "What brings me out here?" Uh oh! She's going to do it again. Forthrightly she tells him without a bit of self-consciousness, "Well, the two ales I drank in the tavern you're holding up went right through me and I was going to find the bathroom?" She shoots a glance skyward, shrugs and tacks on, "Sometime… after dinner? It's getting dark."
"Two ales." Dom shakes his head in a mournful manner. "Well I'd say that is a shame. The Ale must be rather poor then." A tsk. "I'll let you go ahead and go. But if you'd like. I've got a flagon." He motions to his case. "Of rather nice Benden Red and would care to share it with someone that has some wit.""
Darsce patpats her lean stomach, "I can afford the best brew, but I must keep my girlish figure." A sight that is wasted on the poor blind harper as is the pretty pout of ruby-tinted lips. She sighs, much put upon by the pesky high carb, fat-inducing properties of the drink. Life just isn't fair! Her rich chuckle floats to him on the warm night air, and in it the distance she's moved telling that she's taken him at his word about letting her on her way. Dryly of wine with wit, she says over a shoulder, "So would I, Dom, so would I."
Ohhh Darsce. Picking on poor, defenseless blind harpers who use bad pickup lines! What's next? ;)
Oh how I adore Darsce! You do the whole spoiled teen thing so very well. And now I have to go hunt Dom down for a scene too. Love it!